Mad Island Banding

April 12, 2012 by Bea Harrison

With another day of strong onshore winds carrying them further inland, very few birds stopped at Mad Island today.
We only caught 14 new birds, including northern waterthrush, indigo bunting, red-eyed and white-eyed vireo, Kentucky warbler,
orchard oriole and Carolina chickadee.

The day started out quietly, with a beautiful rosette spoonbill flying low over our tent.
But, we had lots of other excitement at the banding station.

First, we watched a Pomarine Jaeger attack and try to kill a laughing gull.

Then, a 1.5 meter long Western Diamondback Rattlesnake decided to join us in our banding tent.

Then, on our drive home, we saw a young alligator, (2 meters long), lying in the road and rather than slip off into the ditch,
it tried to outrun the truck!